The Croatian Soccer Association of Australia (CSAA) or the Hrvatski Nogometni Savez Australije in Croatian) was founded in 1974 with its prime objective being to assist in the development and promotion of all its member clubs - Soccer Clubs in Australia (& NZ) that were formed/founded by local Croatian communities in each state. Every year the Savez helps coordinate its annual soccer tournament - one that is awarded to one of its member clubs to manage and stage. Recent tournaments have attracted as many as 58 teams from all over Australia and New Zealand, and in 2018, our tournament for the first time went “international” when RWB Adria Chicago from the USA, and FC Croatia München from Germany competed. At this years tourney to be held by HNK Kralj Tomislav, a record number of 60 teams will compete across 5 divisions: Men’s Division 1 (NPL clubs), Men’s Division 2 (State League / Amateur Clubs), Women’s Division, a Master’s Division (over 35’s) and a Veterans Division (over 45’s)
Although the CSAA's member clubs were all founded by their respective Croatian communities around Australia & NZ, the composition of the actual teams is entirely multicultural – a true reflection of the welcoming nature of the Croatian community as well as these clubs’ unflinching commitment to excellence in the sport of soccer. The inspiration for the tournament came from the successful Croatian-North American Soccer Tournament founded in 1964. In Australia, after a trial tournament was first held at Melbourne Croatia's ground Montgomery Park in Essendon between 6 Croatian clubs from across Australia, the first official CSAA tournament was held in 1975 - an event that was hosted by HNK Kralj Tomislav in Sydney and taken out by Canberra Deakin Croatia. The CSAA's annual tournament today represents being Australia first and longest running national soccer competition and it reminds being easily the largest and oldest ethnic football tournament in Australia, having been hosted in every state and territory except for the Northern Territory. Melbourne Croatia (Melbourne Knights FC) and Sydney Croatia (Sydney United 58 FC) both hold CSAA Life Membership due to their pioneering in the early days in getting the tournament going, as well as their success on Australia's National footballing stage.
